Hot water heater



May 22, 1934.

HOT WATER HEATER Original Filed March 28. 1952 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 AS 42:11 i /4 L; 1 E I 2% Z9 58 72 E III 11 e R r J. F. MUSTEE HOT WATERHEATER May 22, 1934.

Original Filed March 28. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mm Q Reissued May 22,1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE No. 601,569, March 28, 1932.

Application for reissue July}; 1933, Serial No. 679,005

20 Claims.

This invention relates to a hot water heater and more particularly to agas supply and system of ignition and control means therefor.

An object of the invention is to provide such a. heater in which thesupply of gas to the main burner is cut off when the water reaches apredetermined temperature and wherein the gas supply to both the mainburner and the pilot light is cut ofi in case the pilot light isextinguished.

A further object is to provide a peculiarly simple and effective systemfor accomplishing the foregoing results. A further object is to providea novel and superior means for controlling the valves. A still furtherobject is to provide means which may be manually operated to open thevalve controlling the gas supply to the pilot burner and which when onceactuated will hold such valve in open position until the pilot burnerthermostat has been heated sufliciently to hold such valve open and willthen return to normal inoperative position.

Other and more limited objects will be apparent from the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich Fig. 1 is a fragmentary schematic elevation with parts brokenaway; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the details ofconstruction of the valves, thermostats, valve operating means andpassages; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line3--3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is 'a view similar to Fig. 2, showing amodified form.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a storage tank ofa hot water heater and 11 indicates a covering for the burner andhea'ing coils. Within the coverll isa heating coil 12 which is suppliedwith water in any suitable manner from the city or other water supplyand which delivers heated water into the storage 13 which serves to heatwater as its passes through such coil. Gaseous fuel is supplied throughpipe 14 and delivers to the interior of a housing 15 and to a pilotburner supply line 16. The housing 15 contains a valve 1'1 actuated in amanner hereinafter described by a tank thermostat 18. Fuel pas ses fromthe housing 15 through a suitable connection 19 to a housing 20 andindependently through the pipe 16 to the pilot burner valve assembly 21.Interconnected valves 22 and 23 controlled by a pilot burner thermostat24 conirol both the pilot burner supply and the main burner supply. Thepilot burner thermostat 24 is placed above the pilot burner 25 wherebyto be heated thereby. From the foregoing it will tank 10. Beneath thecoil 12 is the main burner be obvious that so long as the pilot burnerremains ignited, both the pilot burner supply valve 22 and the mainburner valve 23 will remain open and the main burner will be turned onand 011 by the tank thermostat 18 in accordance'with the requirements ofthe tank. Should the pilot burner become extinguished, the thermostat 24will operate to close valves 22 and 23, thereby cutting off the supplyto both the main burner and the pilot burner. The housing 15 and asso-55 ciated structures will be hereinafter termed the tank valve assemblyand will be indicated generally by the reference character T, while thehousing 20 and associated structures will be termed the burner valveassembly and indicated generally by the reference character B.

The housing 15 is provided with a boss 26 internally threaded to receivethe pipe 14 and has an opening 27 providing a passage and a valve seatagainst which the valve 1'7 seats. The pipe 13 is threaded into the boss26 above the valve 1'7 whereby to be supplied independently of suchvalve. Connected to the valve 1'? as by a bolt 28 is a'lever 29 pivotedon a knife edge in a notch 30 in the casing 15. A lever.31 is pivoted ona knife edge at 32 and is connected by means of a spring 33 to the lever29 by a hookextending through an opening 34 therein. The point at whichthe lever 31 engages the spring 33 is so positioned that by a slightmovement it may pass from one side to the other of the point 30 at whichthe lever 29 engages the housing 15. Obviously this gives anover-centering effect so that bya small movement of the lever 31 thevalve 1'7 may be fully opened or fully closed by a snap action. .Anelement 35 of the thermostat 18 bears against one side of the lever 31at the point 36 adjacent the pivot point 32. It will be observed thatthe distance from the point 36 to the point 32 is small as compared tothe distance from the point 36 to point 30. By this means a considerablemultiplication of motion is secured. Threaded into the lever 31 is anextension 36 of an adjustment member 37. The member 37 is provided witha square socket in the upper end thereof into which 190 is receivedloosely a square head 38 of a bolt 39. The bolt 39 is provided with acollar 40 between which and the casing 15 is a spring 41. A pointer 42is clamped between nuts 43 and 44 and serves to rotate the bolt 39 foradjusting the tension 105 on the lever 31. Fuel which has passed throughthe valve 17 flows through the pipe 19 and enters e the housing 20through a passage 45 and enters the space 46. From this space it maypass the valve 23 and enter the housing 20. From here it 110 may flowthrough the passage 4'1 and into the pipe 48. The space 46 is covered bya plug 49 which gives access to the valve 23.. The valve 23 iscontrolled by a rod 50 which is controlled by a lever 51. This lever ispivoted on a knife edge 52 against a portion of the housing 20. Pivotedon a knife edge at 53 is a lever 54 having a long arm terminating in aknife edge 55 between which and an opening 56 in the lever 51 a spring57 is connected. The lever 54 is provided with an adjusting screw 58against which bears an element 59 of the thermostat 24. The levers 51and 54, with the spring 57, secure the multiplication of motion and theovercentering effect in the same manner as do the corresponding elements29 and 31 in thevalve assembly T.

Sealed over an opening 60 in the housing 20 between such housing and themember 21 is a flexible diaphragm 61 through which the rod 50 isconnected to the valve, element 22. Gas from the pipe 16 enters themember 21 and flows through passages 62 and 63 and into the space 64when the valve 22 is open. From the space 64 gas flows through thepassage 65 into the pilot burner supply pipe 66. It will be observedthat theirod 50 is composed of two parts connected by the spring 67whereby the valve 23 may close prior to the closing of the valve 22 whenthe rod 50 is moved upwardly as seen in Fig. 2. Likewise the valve 22will be opened before the spring 6'7 takes up the slack and opens thevalve 23. In this way it is possible, by exerting pressure on aprojection 68 of the lever 51, to open the pilot burner valve22 to allowfor lighting of the pilot burner and heating up of the thermostat 24prior to the ignition of the main burner.

The mechanism for manually opening the pilot burner valve 22 forlighting the pilot burner comprises a cam plunger 69 provided with aconical nose '70 and a square shoulder 71. The plunger 69 is normallyurged to retracted position by the spring 72 and is manually urged intothe position shown in Fig. 3 by pressing the button 73 to overcome theaction ofthe spring 72. It is obvious that when the plunger 69 is pushedin, the cam surface '70 will urge the projection 68 to the positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 thereby opening the pilot valve. As soonas the plunger is pushed to the position shown in Fig. 3, the projection68 drops in behind the shoulder 71 and prevents return of the plunger-69to normal position. However, when the pilot light has burned for asuflicient length of time, the thermostat 24 will be actuated and thevalve 23 will be opened,

the valve 22 being further opened. This will result in moving theprojection 68 out of the path of the shoulder 71 thereby allowing theplunger 69 to moveto normal position where it will not in any wayinterfere with free action of the valves and their controlling means.

. In Fig. 4 I have shown schematically an embodiment of my inventionemploying a different thermostatic control and adjustment for thedicatedgenerally by the reference character D while the burner controlledthermostat and mechanism controlled by it and contained within thehousing 76 is indicated by the reference character E. Gaseous fuel isadmitted through the intake pipe 7'1, passes the valve 78 to theinterior of the housing75, through the conduit 79 into the passage 80,past the valve 81 into the interior of the housing 76 and finallythrough the passage 82 to the burner through a conduit corresponding tothat48 seen in Fig. 3.

A thermostat composed of concentric members 83 and 84 having properlyselected and difl'erent coeflicients of expansion is connected with thehousing and the member 84 extends thereinto through a packing gland 86which allows longitudinal and rotary motion while preventing the escapeof gas. The member 84 bears against a lever 8'7.which, through a spring88, controls a lever 89 and gives an overcentering, snap action forcontrolling the valve '78. The position of the member 84 may be adjustedby rotating the same, its screw threaded connection with the plug 90causing longitudinal motion when it is rotated. The member 84 may berotated by an adjusting lever 91 secured thereto by a set screw.

The valve 78 is a part of a valve unit comprising a sealing plug 92provided with a central depression 93 containing a spring 94 to which isconnected a stem 95 which carries the valve 78. The spring is held inplace by a member 96 threaded into the depression 93 and having acentral opening through which the stem 95 passes.

The assembly E comprises a thermostat 97 which controls a lever 98 andindirectly through a spring 99 the lever 100. The lever 100 carries arod 101 which is sealed through a diaphragm 102 and carries a valveelement 103. The lever 100' controls the valve 81 by reason of itsengagement against the stem 104 thereof. When the valve 81 is fullyclosed, there will preferably be a slight clearance between it and thelever 100. The valve 81 is a part of a valve unit identical inconstruction with that of which the valve '78 is a part, alreadydescribed.

An independent fuel supply for the pilotburner is supplied through aconduit 105 and is controlled by the valve element 103 in a mannerexactly both the pilot burner and the main burner shall i be opened bythe plunger 69 or only the pilot burner, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

While I have shown and described illustrative embodiments of myinvention, I wish it understood that I am'not limited to the detailsshown but that numerous changes may be made without departing from thespirit of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a gas supply line, a main burner,a pilot burner, a pair of valves, each operative to close said supplyline,

' thermostatic means for controlling one of said valves, an auxiliarysupply line for supplying gas to said pilot burner, a pilot burner valvefor controlling said auxiliary supply line and a second thermostaticmeans controlled by the pilot burner for operating the pilot burnervalve and the other I of said first mentioned valves.

2. In a control system for a hot water heater, a main 885 Supp y line, atank controlled valve assembly controlled passage of gas through saidsupply line and including a valve and a thermostatic means controllingthe same, an auxiliary pilot burner supply line, and a second valveassembly controlling both said main gas supply line and said pilotburner supply line and including, separate passages for gas from saidsupply lines, valves controlling said passages and a second thermostaticmeans for operating both said last mentioned valves together.

3. A control for a hot water heater, 3. main gas supply line and anauxiliary gas supply line,

a pair of valves each adapted when in closed position to interrupt flowof gas through said main supply line, an auxiliary valve adapted whenclosed to interrupt flow of gas through said auxiliary supply line, athermostatic means for corn trolling said auxiliary valve and one ofsaid first mentioned valves, and a second thermostatic means controllingthe other of said first mentioned valves.

4. In a control system for a hot water heater, a main gas supply line, atank controlled valve assembly controlling passage of gas through saidsupply line and including a valve and a thermostatic means controllingthe same, an auxiliary pilot burner supply line, and a second valveassembly controlling both said main gas supply line and said pilotburner supply line and including:

separate passages for gas from said supply lines, interconnected valvescontrolling said passages, and a second thermostatic means forcontrolling said interconnected valves.

5. In a control system for a hot water heater, a main gas supply line, atank controlled valve assembly controlling passage of gas through saidmain supply line and including a valve and a thermostatic meanscontrolling the same, an auxiliary pilot burner supply line, and asecond valve assembly controlling both said main gas supply line andsaid pilot burner supply line and including separate passages for gasfrom said supply lines, interconnected valves for controlling saidpassages, a second thermostatic means for controlling saidinterconnected valves, and manual means for opening the valve in saidauxiliary supply line.

6. In a control system for a hot water heater, a main gas supply line, atank controlled valve assembly controlling passage of gas through saidmain supply line and including a valve and a thermostatic meanscontrolling the same, an auxiliary pilot burner supply line, and asecond valve assembly controlling both said main gas supply line andsaid pilot burner supply line and including separate passages for gasfrom said supply lines, interconnected valves for controlling saidpassages, a second thermostatic means for controlling saidinterconnected valves, and manual means for opening the valve in saidauxiliary supply line, said manual means comprising a movable memberactuable from outside said assembly, spring pressed to a normalinoperative position and provided with means for preventing its returnto such normal position until the valve in said auxiliary'supply linehas been further opened.

7. A hot water heater including a main burner, a pilot burner, a tank, athermostatic element responsive to the temperature within said tank, athermostatic element controlled by said pilot burner, a gas supply line,a valve within said line, controlling the passage of gas therethrough,means operated by said first thermostatic element for closing said valvewhen liquid in said tank has reached a predetermined temperature, asecond, normally open valve in said supply line, means controlled bysaid second mentioned thermostatic element for closing said second valvewhen said pilot light is extinguished, a pilot burner supply line, apilot burner valve also controlled by said second mentioned thermostaticelement, normally open but closed when said pilot light is extinguished.

8. In a device of the class described, a gas supply line, a main burner,a pilot burner, a pair of valves, each operative to close said supplyline, thermostatic means for controlling one of said valves, anauxiliary supply line for supplying gas to said pilot burner, a pilotburner valve for controlling said auxiliary supply line and a secondthermostatic means controlled by the pilot burner for operating thepilot burner valve and the other of said first mentioned valves,yieldable means connecting the valves controlled by said secondthermostatic means whereby the pilot burner valve can be opened withoutopening the other, and manual means for opening said pilot burner valve.

9. In a control system for a hot water heater, a main gas supplyline, atank controlled valve assembly controlling passage of gas through saidsupply line and including a valve and a thermostatic means controllingthe same, an auxiliary pilot burner supply line, and a second valveassembly controlling both said main gas supply line and said pilotburner supply line and including separate passages for gas from saidsupply lines, interconnected valves for controlling said passages, asecond thermostatic means for controlling said valves, said thermostaticmeans including a temperature responsive system and an overcentering,compound lever system operated by said temperature responsive system.

10. In a device of the class described, a gas supply line, a mainburner, a pilot burner, a pair of valves, each operative to close saidsupply line, thermostatic means for controlling one of said valves, anauxiliary supply line for supplying gas to said pilot burner, a pilotburner valve for controlling said auxiliary supply line and a secondthermostatic means controlled by the pilot burner for operatingsimultaneously the pilot burner valve and the other of said firstmentioned valves.

11. In a device of the class described, a gas supply line, a mainburner, a pilot burner, a pair of valves, each operative to close saidsupply line, thermostatic means for controlling one of said valves, anauxiliary supply line for supplying gasto said pilot burner, a pilotburner valve for controlling said auxiliary supply line and a secondthermostatic means controlled by the pilot burner for operating thepilot burner valve and the other of said first mentioned valves, thevalves controlled by said second thermostatic means beinginterconnected.

. 12. In a device of the class described, as a subcombination, a valveassembly, separate passages formed therein, interconnected valvescontrolling said passages, an overcentering lever controlling saidva1ves, a. second lever controlling said overcentering lever, and athermostatic element controlling said second lever.

13. In a device of the character described, as a sub-combination, avalveassembly including independent passages, a valve controlling each ofsaid passages, means including a resilient portion connecting saidvalves for operation together. thermostatic means controlling both saidvalves valves without opening the other.

14. In a device of the character described, as a sub-combination, avalve assembly, independent passages therethrough, a valve controllingeach of said passages, a connector extending between 'the movableelements of said valves, including a resilient section and being of suchlength that when both said valves are closed said resilient section isstretched, and manual means for moving said connecting means a distancesufiicient to open one of said valves but insufficient to open theother.

15. In a device of the character described, as a sub-combination, avalve assembly, independent passages therethrough, a valve controllingeach of said passages, a connector extending between the movableelements of said valves, including a resilient section and being of suchlength that when both said valves are closed said resilient sect-ion isstretched, manual means for moving said connecting means a distancesuflicient to open one of said valves but insuflicient to open theother, said manual means being spring pressed to a normal inoperativeposition and including means adapted to prevent its return to suchnormal position, after ithas been actuated to open one of said valves,prior to the opening of the other of said valves.

16. In a device of the character described, as a sub-combination, avalve assembly including independent passages, valvescontrollingsaidpassages, a connector extending between the movableelements of said valves, a pivoted lever adapted to control saidconnector, a second pivoted lever"extending in the same generaldirection as said first pivoted lever and having a portion adapted topass by a small motion from one side to the other of the pivot of saidfirst lever and a spring connectingpaid point with a point on said firstlever on the opposite side of its pivot point whereby to secure anovercentering eifect, and a thermostatic element controlling saidsecondmentioned lever.

1'7. In a device of the character described, as a v sub-combination, avalve assembly including independent passages, valves controlling saidpassages, a connector extending between the movable elements of saidvalves, a pivoted lever adapted to control said connector, a secondpivoted lever extending in the same general direction as said firstpivoted lever and having a portion adapted to pass by a small motionfrom one side to the .other of the pivot of said first lever and aspring by to secure an overcentering effect, a thermostatic elementcontrolling said second mentioned lever, and a manual means for movingsaid first lever a short distance, holding it at that point until itshall have been moved further by said thermostatic element and thenreturning to normal inoperative position.

18. In a device of the character described, a valve assembly including acasing having a pasand manual means adapted to open one of said sage, avalve controlling said passage, a thermostatic element, a lever pivotedat one end on said casing, the opposite end of said lever being adaptedto control said valve, a second lever pivoted at one end on said casingsubstantially opposite said first lever and extending in the samegeneral direction as said first pivoted lever and having a portionadapted to passby a small motion from one side to the other of the pivotof said first lever and a spring connecting said portion with the firstlever at a point on the latter intermediate its ends, and tending toswing such lever to one side of its pivot point whereby to secure anovercentering effect, said'thermostatic element being arranged to en esaid second lever and operable to swing said portion thereof relative tosaid first lever to shift the overcentering effect of said spring to theother side of the pivot for said first lever.

19. In a device oi the character described, a valve assembly including acasing having a pas sage, a valve controlling said passage, athermostatic element, a lever pivoted at one end on said casing, theopposite end of said lever being adapted to control said valve, a secondlever pivoted at one end on said casing substantially opposite saidfirst lever and extending in the same general direction as said firstpivoted lever and having a portion adapted to pass by a small motionfrom one side to the other of the pivot of said first lever and a springconnecting said portion with an intermediate point on said first leverand tending to swing the latter lever to one side of its pivot pointwhereby to secure an overcentering eil'ect, said thermostatic elementbeing arranged to engage said second lever and operable to swing saidportion thereof relative to saidfirst lever to shift the overcenteringefiect of said spring to the other side of the pivot for said firstlever.

20. In a device of the class described, a valve assembly including acasing having a passage, a valve controlling said passage, athermostatic element, a lever having pivotal'engagement at one end withone wall of said casing, the opposite end of said lever being adapted tocontrol said valve, 9. second lever engaging said thermostatic elementand arranged to be operated thereby and disposed in side by siderelation to said first lever and having pivotal engagement with theopposite wall of said casing at that end remote from the end of saidfirst lever that engages said casing, the outer end of said second leverbeing movable relative to the pivot for said first lever, a springconnecting an intermediate end of said second lever with the outerportion of said first lever and normally tending to swing said firstlever about its pivot upon movement of the said second lever to eitherside thereof, said spring being arranged to maintain said levers inpivotal engagement with said casing walls and said second lever beingoffset intermediate its pivot and outer end and said first lever andspring being positioned within saf d ofi-set, whereby said spring tendsto swing said second lever toward said thermostatic element.

JOSEPH F. MUSTEE.

